#chung-man pow

[doubleattitude]

OCPAA

Showbiz Nationals, Anaheim CA 2020: RESULTS

Sapphire:

Mini Solo

1st: Taylor Godlewski-’My Heart’

2nd: Sydney Johnson-’Fergalicious’

3rd: Emma Walters-’Countdown’

4th: Kylee Densmore-’Shake Your Tail Feather’

5th: Mila Garg-’Somewhere Over the Rainbow’

6th: Brooklyn Guerrero-’Lip Gloss’

7th: Kimiko Evans-’That’s Not My Name’

8th: Sloane Schuster-’When I Grow Up’

10th: June Khoury-’Junie In A Bottle’

Mini Duet/Trio

1st: Hadley Berokoff, Taylor Godlewsk-‘Secret Chord’

2nd: Kimiko Evans, Sydney Johnson, Sloane Schuster-‘Single Ladies’

Mini Small Group

1st: ‘Peanut Butter Jelly Time’

Mini Large Group

1st: ‘Broadway Babies’

2nd: ‘Once Upon A Time’

Petite Solo

2nd: Kailee Lozano-’What You Know About Me’

3rd: Everly Fritchle-’Hallelujah’

7th: Ava Richardson-’Bippity Boppity Boo’

8th: Noelle Khoury-’What A Feeling’

Petite Duo/Trio

6th: June Khoury, Noelle Khoury-‘Sisters’

Petite Small Group

3rd: ‘Humble and Kind’

6th: ‘Grace’

Petite Large Group

7th: ‘Jailhouse Rock’

10th: ‘Disturbia’

Pre-Junior Solo

7th: Brielyn Diluigi-’Party Girl’

8th: Harlee Lozano-’Cold As Ice’

9th: Vienna Balta-’Kill the Lights’

10th: Kylie Acosta-’Technologic’

Junior Solo

5th: Riley Stem-’Life of the Party’

8th: Kelsey Pastian-’Forget About the Boy’

Junior Large Group

1st: ‘One Jump’

5th: ‘Kite’

Pre-Teen Solo

5th: Elizabeth Stewart-’Ashes’

Teen Solo

1st: Sara Nejad-’Lips Are Movin’

2nd: Haley Tran-’Oh So Quiet’

6th: Nazanin Shafie-’Emergency’

9th: Callie Hansen-’Bang Them Sticks’

Teen Small Group

3rd: ‘Prisoners’

5th: ‘Gold Dust’

Teen Large Group

1st: ‘Standing There’

Pre-Senior Solo

1st: Nicole Phillips-’Your Day Will Come’

Ruby:

Petite Solo

1st: Cece Chung-’And I Am Telling You’

2nd: Nyla Mccarthy-’Wind It Up’

5th: Peyton Kleveno-’Beat Shakes Up My Heart’

7th: Avery Wilkinson-’Never Enough’

8th: Kyle Chen-’Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’

9th: Charlotte Howerton-’Lollipop’

10th: Ella Strunz-’Respect’

Petite Duet/Trio

1st: Nyla Mccarthy, Ella Strunz, Graycen Weeda-‘Beat It’

2nd: Isabella Schmidt-Yu, Kayden Sellars, Lily Wei-Ten-‘Three Blind Mice’

4th: Charlotte Howerton, Audrina Mossembekker, Kennadie Wright-‘Yacht Club Swing’

5th: Cece Chung, Charlotte Howerton, Mila Madriles-‘Riding Dirty’

6th: Malia Drown, Natalya Kokos, Avery Wilkinson-‘Wash That Man’

Petite Small Group

2nd: ‘Boujee Girls’

3rd: ‘Black Cat’

4th: ‘Jet Set’

7th: ‘Hopelessly Devoted’

8th: ‘Silent Night’

10th: ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider’

Petite Large Group

1st: ‘Tightrope’

2nd: ‘Yesterday’

4th: ‘Santa Maria’

Petite Line

1st: ‘Icon’

Pre-Junior Solo

1st: Madelyn Rose Nasu-’Hearts Beat As 1′

2nd: Alexandra Collins-’Britney’

6th: Makenzie Rowland-’Rise Up’

7th: Olivia Lycett-’All Eyes On Me’

8th: Taylor Johnson-’Like I’m Gonna Lose You’

Junior Solo

5th: Audrey Kang-’Black Hole Sun’

7th: Romina Tran-’Hunter’

Pre-Teen Solo

6th: Kelsey Gampol-’Good Woman’

7th: Hanna Wherry-’Blame Game’

10th: Alexa Hedlund-’Egyptian Lover’

Teen Large Group

2nd: ‘Lost Without You’

10th: ‘Darkness’

Pre-Senior Solo

9th: Daniel Stankovich-’End Of the Line’

Diamond:

Petite Solo

1st: Audrina Mossembekker-’Fields of Gold’

2nd: Avery Olson-’Monster’

3rd: Dylan Reuss-’Lost Boy’

6th: Charlotte Delong-’Safe and Sound’

7th: Leighton Godlewski-’Hold Your Hand’

8th: Liana Li-’New York New York’

9th: Charlotte Watters-’You’re Beautiful’

Petite Duet/Trio

1st: Leighton Godlewski, Liana Li-‘Fly’

2nd: Brinley Lowe, Avery Olson, Dylan Reuss-‘Snow White’

5th: Cerys Cogswell, Charlotte Delong, Morgan Turner-‘Circus’

Petite Small Group

1st: ‘Bad Romance’

3rd: ‘Out of this World’

5th: ‘Find Me’

6th: ‘Let There Be Peace’

Petite Large Group

1st: ‘Poker Face’

3rd: ‘Carry That Weight’

6th: ‘Diamonds Are Forever’

Pre-Junior Solo

1st: Esme Lee-’Blackbird’

3rd: Jillian Mahan-’Ladies to the Floor’

4th: Alyssa Mastroianni-’Crippled Bird’

9th: Ariel Lantz-Loza-’Wonder’

10th: Grace Howerton-’Entertain You’

Junior Solo

6th: Brooke Edwards-’Yellow Brick Road’

7th: Arabella Kim-’Unchained’

10th: Kylie Gonzalez-’Take Me To Church’

Junior Duet/Trio

2nd: Alyssa Mastroianni, Brady Reuss, Sara Von Rotz-‘Memory’

7th: Jaidyn Alefosio, Kaylee Bish, Addy Morgan-‘Disco’

Junior Small Group

3rd: ‘Breaking Dishes’

4th: ‘I Was Broken’

Junior Large Group

2nd: ‘Little Bird’

3rd: ‘Sushi’

5th: ‘Lionheart’

6th: ‘Falling In Love’

Pre-Teen Solo

1st: Hope Edwards-’Keeping Me Down’

3rd: Mackenzie Kleveno-’Beats’

5th: Delaney Bojorquez-’Tessellate’

7th: Ashlyn Blanpied-’Fever’

Teen Solo

1st: Sammi Chung-’Eight’

4th: Olivia Magni-’Moonlight Sonata’

6th: Morgan Landrigan-’Trainwreck’

10th: Presslie Novits-’Let Me Entertain You’

Teen Small Group

2nd: ‘Ramalama’

4th: ‘River’

6th: ‘I Gave You All’

7th: ‘Maneater’

Teen Large Group

7th: ‘Two Slow Dancers’

Pre-Senior Solo

2nd: Berlynn Gonzalez-’Lover Please Stay’

Senior Solo

1st: Reese Willis-’Godspeed’

10th: Aleialanee Ponce De Leon-’Love Song’

Senior Small Group

2nd: ‘Boom POW’

7th: ‘Gravity’

Senior Large Group

2nd: ‘Tethered’

Battle:

Ruby Petite Duet/Trio

2nd: Nyla Mccarthy, Ella Strunz, Graycen Weeda-‘Beat It’

Diamond Petite Duet/Trio

1st: Leighton Godlewski, Liana Li-‘Fly’

Diamond Junior Duet/Trio

1st: Alyssa Mastroianni, Brady Reuss, Sara Von Rotz-‘Memory’

Grand Finals:

Sapphire:

5th: ‘One Jump’

Ruby:

Petite Small Group

1st: ‘Boujee Girls’

Petite Large Group

1st: ‘Tightrope’

Teen Large Group

2nd: ‘Lost Without You’

Line

1st: ‘Icon’

Diamond:

Petite Small Group

1st: ‘Bad Romance’

Petite Large Group

1st: ‘Poker Face’

Junior Small Group

5th: ‘Breaking Dishes’

Junior Large Group

2nd: ‘Little Bird’

Teen Small Group

1st: ‘Ramalama’

Teen Large Group

5th: ‘Two Slow Dancers’

Senior Small Group

1st: ‘Boom POW’

Senior Large Group

4th: ‘Tethered’

Title:

Sapphire Mini

Sydney Johnson

Sapphire Petite

Kailee Lozano

Sapphire Junior

Slater Gilbert

Sapphire Teen

Haley Tran

Ruby Petite

Nyla Mccarthy

Ruby Pre-Junior

Alexandra Collins

Ruby Pre-Senior

Daniel Stankovich

Diamond Pre-Junior

Jillian Mahan

Diamond Pre-Teen

Mackenzie Kleveno

Solo Icon:

Sapphie Mini

Sydney Johnson-Jazz

Taylor Godlewski-Lyrical

Sapphire Petite

Kailee Lozano-Jazz

Sapphire Junior

Slater Gilbert-Hip Hop

Sapphire Teen

Sara Nejad-Jazz

Ruby Petite

Cece Chung-Lyrical

Nyla Mccarthy-Jazz

Ruby Pre-Junior

Alexandra Collins-Jazz

Madelyn Rose Nasu-Musical Theater

Ruby Junior

Audrey Kang-Jazz

Ruby Pre-Teen

Hanna Wherry-Contemporary

Kelsey Gampol-Jazz

Diamond Petite

Audrina Mossembekker-Lyrical

Avery Olson-Jazz

Diamond Pre-Junior

Jillian Mahan-Jazz

Esme Lee-Musical Theater

Diamond Pre-Teen

Mackenzie Kleveno-Jazz

Hope Edwards-Contemporary

Diamond Teen

Sammi Chung-Jazz

Presslie Novits-Musical Theater

Sammi Chung-Contemporary

Diamond Pre-Senior

Berlynn Gonzalez-Contemporary

Diamond Senior

Reese Willis-Contemporary

[phoenixtakaramono]

Here is the complete list of songs of the personal story playlist that I use for writing inspiration on AO3 (Finders Keepers by PhoenixTakaramono). SUMMARY: By some miraculous twist of fate, Jack stumbles across an Atlas android hidden smack dab in Hyperion headquarters. Obviously, what is he going to do with it? Keep it for himself, of course, because as the saying goes, “Finders keepers, losers weepers.” What he didn’t anticipate was the clusterfuck he’d find himself in, when he discovers the valuable model he’d been hoarding has a hidden backstory. There is more than meets the eye.

1. Bunsen Burner // Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barry

2. Rachel’s Song // Vangelis

3. Emperor’s New Clothes // Panic! At the Disco

4. Something New // Secret Weapons

5. Give Me Something Good // Ryan Adams

6. Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful // Paloma Faith

7. Toes // Glass Animals

8. Space Junk // Wang Chung

9.  A Gentle Awakening // JD McPherson

10. Check It Out // Oh the Larceny

11. The Bomb // Pigeon John

12. Breaking Down the Borders // Miracle Of Sound

13. King // ZAYDE WOLF

13A. Bring Out the Bad // RIVVRS

13B. Keeping Me Alive // Johnathan Roy

14. Miracle // The Score

15. Ima Robot // Greenback Boogie

16. Strange Kind of Woman // Deep Purple

17. I Know What I Am // Band of Skulls

18. Come Closer // Miles Kane

19. Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked // Cage the Elephant

20. 2-1 // Imogen Heap

21. God of a Girl // Georgi Kay

22. White Bird // KT Tunstall

23. When the Truth Hunts You Down // Sam Tinnesz

24. Me and Mine // The Brothers Bright

25. Future Starts Slow // The Kills 

26. Human // Rag’n’Bone Man

27. Rage and Romance // Bressie

28. Sound of our Hearts // Compact Disco

29. Watch Me // The Phantoms

30. I’m a Wanted Man // Royal Deluxe

31. Black and Gold // Sam Sparro

32. Two Against One // Danger Mouse

32A. Movement // Hozier

33. No Place to Hide // Jace Everett

34. Fire // Delta Rae

35. Hellfire // Barns Courtney

36. Who Did That to You? // John Legend

37. Pork Soda // Glass Animals

38. Fashion // The Royal Concept

39. My Type // Saint Motel

40. Snap Out of It // Arctic Monkeys

41. Cage of Bones // Son Lux

42. Way Down We Go // Kaleo

43. House on a Hill // The Pretty Reckless

44. You Don’t Know Me // Son Lux

45. Daggers & Knives // Woodes

46. Hold On I’m Coming // Welshly Arms

47. Came a Long Way // Heartless Bastards

48. In My Mind // Georgi Kay

49. How Bad We Need Each Other // Marc Scibilia

50. Written in the Water // Gin Wigmore

51. Agnes // Glass Animals

52. Glitter & Gold // Barns Courtney

53. Legendary // Welshly Arms

54. Wicked Ones // Dorothy

55. The Place I Left Behind // The Deep Dark Woods

56. Suit // Boom! Bap! Pow!

57. How I Want Ya // Hudson Thames

58. I’m in Love // Farmdale

59. I Wanna be Yours // Arctic Monkeys

60. Weeds or Wishes // Erin & the Wildfire

61. Afterglow // Troy Baker

62. Seer // Motopony

63. Hollow // Beulah

64. Broken Bones // Kaleo

65. Meet Your Master // Nine Inch Nails

66. Supremacy // Muse

67. Marked Man // Mieka Pauley

68. Sorry I Stole Your Man // Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas

69. Tumbleweeds // Twin Bandit

70. Oh My Love // To Kill a King

71. Into the Jungle // X Ambassadors 

72. Ready Set Let’s Go // Sam Tinnesz

73. Highway // Bleeker

74. Pressure and Time // Rival Sons

75. Raise Hell // Dorothy

76. What Makes a Good Man? // The Heavy

77. Put the Gun Down // ZZ Ward

78. Judgement Day // Stealth

79. Coming Down // Halsey

80. (I Just) Died in your Arms // BASTILLE

81. Never Tear Us Apart // Paloma Faith

82. Lay My Body Down // Rag’n’Bone Man

83. Bury Me Face Down // grandson

84. More Than This // Georgi Kay

85. Through the Valley // Shawn James

86. What We Lost in the Fire // Troy Baker

87. Blood on My Name // The Brothers Bright

88. Be Your Own God // Nightmare and the Cat

89. Don’t Mess With Me // Temposhark

90. Hipster Shakes // Black Pistol Fire

91. Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene // Hozier

92. To the Top // Twin Shadow

[elsword-x-aisha-oneshots]

Duel/Splitting Up (Star Wars AU) Part 2

Part 1

Story:

Raven and Elsword are locked in battle, surrounded by most of Raven’s men and Elsword’s friends. Add is ignoring the fight and is trying to repair his ship.

BZZT

BZZT 

CLANG

Elsword tried to slash out the Nasod arm, but Raven blocked it and kicked Elsword back. Then Elsword summon a rune right under Raven, flames burst underneath him, but he dodge quickly and charged straight at Elsword. 

Aisha was scared, the last time Elsword did something on his own, it was at the battle of Velderia. When they had to evacuate the civilians, Elsword stayed behind so that he give the others time to escape. Aisha refused, but Elsword turned on a force field so that no-one can return or enter.

Everyone tried everything they can to help, but Elsword just simply tried to defended everyone against the army of the demonian empire. If Elesis hadn’t showed up...

Aisha shook the thought out of her head. Since then, she never wished to leave Elsword again, until this mission arrived. She was happy to see Elsword again, but if this keeps up...

Panting, Elsword defended himself from Raven’s attack. Then he kicked Raven off and jumped. When he reached the top, he charged straight toward raven, with a fist made of fire. Raven couldn’t react in time to defend himself. 

POW

BANG

A big explosion emerged, causing smoke inside the hangar. Everyone couldn’t see what’s happening right now, except for those who can use the power of the El, which is mostly all of Elsword’s friends, and Add too, but with some high-tech goggles.

Elsword and Raven are still attacking each other without using their sights. Elsword is skillful, but Raven has experience. Elesis knew from the start that he won’t win. If she was fighting Raven, it’ll be difficult to tell. He was that skillful.

As the smoke dispersed, Everyone see Elsword and Raven blades clashing at each other.

“You’re very skillful, for little kid.”

“I have to... If I want to protect them.”

They seperate, both are panting. Then, Raven chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“...I give up...”

“Huh?!”

“I give up. That means you win,” Raven replied.

“But... But... We haven’t even go all out! I can’t accept this win! I won’t accept it until one of is on the ground.”

“Elsword, if that does happen... you’d be dead.”

“WHY YOU-”

“He’s right,” Elesis said. “Even if I were to fight him, we won’t know who would win. I hate to say Elsword, but you’ll lose no matter what.”

“...”

Elsword stood there, frustrated for the fact that he can’t win. Even though he survived the battle of Hamelia, the attack on Feitali, the invasion of Velderia. He just can’t do anything on his own.

“But...” Raven continued. “Since I lost, I guess I got no choice but to help you.”

“What?”

Eve interrupted, “It means that the crow knights will work alongside the republic.”

“No... We’ll be working among the red knights, and I’ll also teach Elsword how to become more experience.”

“Why?” Elsword asked. “Why are you doing this?”

“...You remind me of myself when I was your age...”

BEEP

BEEP

BEEP

The alarm shocked everyone. 

“COMMANDER RAVEN, PLEASE REPORT TO THE BRIDGE”

[Later]

Everyone headed toward the bridge and the first thing they saw was-

“A Demonian Imperial Void Dreadnought has arrived sir!”

A Demonian Imperial Void Dreadnought is one of the largest ship models the Empire have. It contains enough firepower to fight off an entire fleet. 

“Damn it!” Raven yelled. “We’re trapped. There’s no way out.”

“Commander! They wish to contact you.”

“Put them on-screen.”

The screen then showed a figure, wearing dark, has a hood on and has some sort of mask, covering most of his face.

Suddenly, Elesis is having a headache. And Elsword sensed it.

“Sis! Are you okay?”

As Elsword tried to help her, a voice spoke.

‘Go to Rubenla. I’ll be waiting...”

So many things are happening at once. But The man in the screen spoke.

“Commander Raven... your reputation exceeds you.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Darth Solace. I have come for her.”

“We won’t... give... Princess Eve up!” Elesis barely spoke.

“No, not her. I came for Elesis Sieghart.”

“What?” Elesis said.

“I own the Empire, but they are simply pawns trying to draw you out. Surrender... or die.”

The screen went dark. And Elesis headache disappear.

“Sis? What happened?” 

“I don’t know. It just happened so suddenly.”

Raven came up to them. “We’re trapped. We can’t go anywhere with that Dreadnought aiming at us.”

Raven helped Elesis up, “We’ll need to find a way out, or we’ll never-”

“Chung, Ara, you’ll come with me. We’re going in that dreadnought!” Elsword suggested.

“Huh?!”

“HUH?!”

“We need to go in there and provide a distraction. So that Raven and everyone can escape.”

“ARE YOU CRAZY?!” Aisha yelled. “You’ll die out there! Plus there’s a sith there!”

“Well we can’t stay still! We need to do something!”

“We know that Elsword,” Rena replied. “But we can’t just blindly attack.”

“Of course not! That’s why we’ll distract them, and you guys make you-”

SMACK

Aisha smack Elsword, “YOU IDIOT! CAN’T YOU SEE YOUR RECKLESSNESS IS GOING TO GET YOU KILLED?! Can’t you see it’s scaring me? Elesis? Everyone?! Just stop... Stop getting yourself killed!”

Aisha just held onto Elsword, begging him to not go with this plan. Elsword was shocked at Aisha’s action. the one time she cried was back at Velderia. When Elsword woke up from one of the med-centers, she was there by his side. Then she hugged him, crying. Elsword didn’t knew what to do at that momment. Heck he felt 

“I have an idea,” Eve suggested.

[Later]

An imperial dropship has arrived at the hangar inside Raven’s ship. A small group of soldiers exited the dropship, along with a woman, wearing a suit of armor, carrying a backpack, which may contains something unusual. She’s not wearing a helmet,her apperance is with blonde hair and blue eyes. Raven is there, greeting the boarding party, but he knew exactly who this woman is.

“Rose, the bounty hunter of the Empyrean. I heard of you. You’re that bounty hunter who came from a different galaxy. The Empyrean Galaxy.”

“Raven Cronswell, We were told you have put the target in a holding cell. Is that correct?”

“Yes, I had to lock them up. Some resisted, but we got them under control.”

Raven only said that, for it’s all part of the plan. Eve told Raven to put them all inside the holding cells, and just go along on what’s about to happen.

[Meanwhile]

Elsword and the gang are in the cells, planning their next attack.

“Elsword, Add, Ara and I will take the Dynamo and be the decoys for the Dreadnought. After what happened earlier, I believe that the man in black won’t kill us. I have a feeling I’m important to him.”

“Hey, I was paid to sent the princess to Lanoxio. Nothing more or less.”

“We’ll double your payment. Help us and you’ll be paid.”

Add scoffed.

“Rena, Aisha and Chung will go with Raven and meet up with the council, report to them, and send reinforcement to us. Once we find the Rogue Demon, we’ll need backup to escape from the imperials hand.”

“Got it,” Rena replied. Aisha was concerned for the captain of the red knight. Just moments ago, she was suffering a horrible headache, now she’s good as new. Eve is worried for the others, but she knew she must complete her mission. Add doesn’t care about the war nor the republic or empire. All he cares about is the money he needs to complete his research (And maybe pay some debts).

Elsword, “Ok... We’ll meet again back at Lanoxio. So until then... none of us will die.”

Everyone nodded.

But before the plan could begin, Aisha wished to speak to Elsword alone.

“What is it?” Elsword ask.

“...I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to smack you... but... but... You keep getting yourself hurt. A day doesn’t go by without thinking about your safety.”

“Aisha... you’re right. When I was young... I never had any friends. I was alone; all I care about was being strong. Now... I understand, I have people who need me, people I need to protect.”

Elsword hugged Aisha, “I’m sorry... I promise I won’t worry you again.”

Aisha blushed at the action, but accepted it. “You dummy...”

A/N: I like this AU Idea. What you guys think?

[capecodcurmudgeon-blog]

The current impasse with North Korea has died down for the time being, but the Korean peninsula is no stranger to conflict.  16th and 17th century Manchu and Japanese invasions brought about a sense of Korean isolationism, leading many to describe the place as a “Hermit Kingdom”.  The tendency became more pronounced in the 19th century, as Koreans witnessed the colonization of China to the north, and its humiliation in two opium wars.

The July 1866 General Sherman incident resulted in the death of all 20 officers and crew and the destruction of an American armed merchant marine side-wheel steamer, leading to the U.S. Navy’s 1871 expedition to the Kingdom of Joseon (Chosŏn), the Shinmiyangyo.  The expedition would result in the death of about 300 Korean soldiers and three Americans.

US-Korean relations soured in 1905 in the wake of the Russo-Japanese War, when the U.S. recognized Korea as falling into the Japanese “sphere of influence”.

Korean nationalists were dismayed in 1910, with the Japanese annexation of the Korean Peninsula.  Woodrow Wilson’s high-sounding principles of national self-determination bypassed the Hermit Kingdom, leaving Koreans with virtually no role in their own internal administration.

Following the Japanese defeat in WWII, the Korean peninsula was divided into two occupied zones:  the north held by the Soviet Union and the south by the United States. The Cairo declaration of 1943 had called for a unified Korea, its division along the 38th parallel intended to be temporary.   It wasn’t meant to be.  Kim Il-sung came to power in North Korea in 1946, nationalizing key industries and collectivizing land, haranguing his countrymen about the “spirit of self-reliance” he called Juche, (JOO-chay).

Propaganda poster depicting “Dear Leader”, Kim Il-sung

South Korea declared statehood in May 1948, under the vehemently anti-communist military strongman, Syngman Rhee.

The 1948-49 withdrawal of Soviet and most American forces left the south holding the weaker hand. Escalating border conflicts led to war when the North, with assurances of support from the Soviet Union and Communist China, invaded South Korea in June 1950.

Within days, the United States secured a United Nations resolution, calling for the defense of South Korea against North Korean aggression.  Sixteen countries sent troops to South Korea’s aid.  90% of them were Americans.

American intervention turned the tide.  US and South Korean forces crossed the North Korean border in November 1951, pressing north toward the Chinese border.  Hundreds of thousands of troops from the People’s Republic of China poured across the border in December, mounting heavy assaults against allied forces and converting what had been a war of movement, into a brutal stalemate and war of attrition.

Republican Dwight David Eisenhower won decisively in the 1952 Presidential election, a contest which turned heavily on foreign policy.  It wasn’t long before President Eisenhower’s public hints of nuclear escalation brought all sides to the negotiating table.

33,741 Americans lost their lives in the Korean war.  Total casualties including North and South Korea, China and United Nations forces, military and civilian, number some 2.8 million.

View from the south side of the Joint Security Area, Korean DMZ

An armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, a new border drawn between North and South Korea, giving South Korea additional territory and creating a “demilitarized zone” between the two nations.  WWIII had been averted, though the two sides technically remain at war, to this day.

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North) and the Republic of Korea (South), has been the focal point of cold war tension, ever since.

The Korean DMZ conflict of 1966–69 culminated in the Blue House Raid of 1968, the attempted assassination of ROK President Park Chung-hee by North Korean commandos.  This period saw a series of skirmishes along the DMZ, resulting in the death of 43 Americans, 299 South Koreans and 397 North Koreans.

South Korean Executive Mansion – “Blue House”

Some such episodes are borderline comical, such as the “mine is bigger than yours” tit-for-tat known as the “flagpole war” of the 1980s.  The South Korean government built a 323′ flagpole flying a huge, 287lb ROK flag in Daeseong-dong, 350 meters from the line of demarcation. Not to be outdone, DPRK government officials erected a 525′ flagpole in Kijŏng-dong, flying a 595lb flag of North Korea. As of 2014, the DPRK pole remains the 4th tallest flagpole, in the world.

Other episodes are distinctly un-funny, such as the 1976 axe murders of two American Army officers.

The Joint Security Area (JSA) lies within the village of Panmunjom, the only piece of the DMZ where North and South Korean guards stand face-to-face.  There the “Bridge of No Return” crosses the border, the Military Demarcation Line running across its center.  Here, POWs were brought from both sides, and given their final ultimatum.  They could stay in the country of their captivity or cross that bridge and return to their homeland.  They could never come back.

Lieutenant Pak Chul

The bridge was last used for prisoner exchange in 1968, when the crew of USS Pueblo was released and ordered to cross into South Korea.

Visible only during winter months, command Post #3, near the Bridge of No Return, has been called the “loneliest outpost in the world”.  On numerous occasions, North Korean troops have taken advantage of this isolation, attempting to grab United Nations Command personnel and drag them across the bridge into North Korean territory.

On August 18, 1976, five Korean Service Corps (KSC) personnel entered the JSA, escorted by US Army Captain Arthur Bonifas, his ROK counterpart Captain Kim, area platoon leader First Lieutenant Mark Barrett, and 11 American and South Korean enlisted personnel.

15 North Korean soldiers appeared, commanded by Senior Lieutenant Pak Chul, whom UNC soldiers called “Lt. Bulldog” based on his confrontational history.   Lt. Pak ordered the UNC to cease tree trimming, “because Kim Il-sung personally planted it and nourished it and it’s growing under his supervision.”  Captain Bonifas turned his back on the North Koreans, ordering the detail to continue.  That’s when the stuff hit the fan.

Another 20 North Korean soldiers crossed the bridge, carrying crowbars and clubs.  Lt. Pak removed his watch, wrapped it in a handkerchief, placed it in his pocket, and shouted, “Kill the bastards!”.

When it was over, Captain Bonifas and First Lieutenant Barrett were dead, hacked to death with axes dropped by the tree-trimmers.  All but one of the UNC guards were injured.  Within hours, Kim Jong-il, son of “Dear Leader” Kim Il-sung, described the incident as an unprovoked incident in which American officers attacked North Korean guards.

The CIA believed the whole episode to have been pre-planned.  American forces in South Korea were moved to DEFCON 3 on August 19.  Two days later, the show of force response called “Operation Paul Bunyan”, descended like a biblical plague, on the North Korean outpost.

At 7:00am on August 21, 23 American and South Korean vehicles drove into the JSA with chainsaws, 753 troops escorted by two 30-man security platoons, armed with pistols and axe handles.  This was no tree trimming operation.

64 South Korean Special Forces brandished M16 rifles and M79 grenade launchers. Lethally effective elite soldiers, they taunted the North Koreans, daring them to cross the bridge.  Several had Claymore mines strapped to their chests, firing mechanisms at the ready.

20 utility helicopters and seven Cobra attack choppers circled overhead, behind them F-4 Phantom IIs and nuclear-capable B-52 Stratofortresses.

12,000 additional troops were ordered to Korea, including 1,800 Marines from Okinawa.  At Yokota Air Base in Japan, a dozen C-130s stood “nose to tail”, ready to provide back-up.  Air bases from Guam to Idaho were on full alert.  The entire USS Midway carrier task force, stood offshore.

“Minds blown” by this show of force, North Korea responded with 150-200 troops of its own, but did little but look on at the proceedings.

42 minutes later, all that remained of dear leader’s tree was a 20’ stump, deliberately left to aggravate North Korean sensibilities.

Korean DMZ ‘Incident Tree’

Captain Bonifas and Lieutenant Barrett were posthumously promoted to the ranks of Major and Captain, respectively.  Today, Camp Bonifas is home to the United Nations Command Security Battalion – Joint Security Area, whose mission it is to monitor and enforce the Korean Armistice Agreement of 1953 in the no-man’s land between North and South Korea.

Camp Bonifas is home to a one-hole, “par 3” AstroTurf patch, surrounded on three sides by minefields.  Sports Illustrated has called it “the most dangerous hole in golf”.  There is at least one report of an errant shot exploding a land mine. How nice it is that a sense of humor can survive, even in this wretched place.

PANMUNJOM, MAY-16: Flight lieutenant David Jobster from Scotland stands next to a billboard in front of the “world’s most dangerous” golf course in the DMZ, Korea.

August 19, 1976  Operation Paul Bunyan The current impasse with North Korea has died down for the time being, but the Korean peninsula is no stranger to conflict.  

[phoenixtakaramono]

Link to FK’s Story Mix

Direct Link to Finders Keepers’s Playlist--> Story Mix

SUMMARY: By some miraculous twist of fate, Jack stumbles across an Atlas android hidden smack dab in Hyperion headquarters. Obviously, what is he going to do with it? Keep it for himself, of course, because as the saying goes, “Finders keepers, losers weepers.” What he didn’t anticipate was the clusterfuck he’d find himself in, when he discovers the valuable model he’d been hoarding has a hidden backstory. There is more than meets the eye.

TRACKS

1. Bunsen Burner // Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barry

2. Rachel’s Song // Vangelis

3. Emperor’s New Clothes // Panic! At the Disco

4. Something New // Secret Weapons

5. Give Me Something Good // Ryan Adams

6. Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful // Paloma Faith

7. Toes // Glass Animals

8. Space Junk // Wang Chung

9.  A Gentle Awakening // JD McPherson

10. The Bomb // Pigeon John

11. Breaking Down the Borders // Miracle Of Sound

12. Miracle // The Score

13. Ima Robot // Greenback Boogie

14. Strange Kind of Woman // Deep Purple

15. I Know What I Am // Band of Skulls

16. Come Closer // Miles Kane

17. Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked // Cage the Elephant

18. 2-1 // Imogen Heap

19. God of a Girl // Georgi Kay

20. White Bird // KT Tunstall

21. When the Truth Hunts You Down // Sam Tinnesz

22. Me and Mine // The Brothers Bright

23. Future Starts Slow // The Kills

24. Human // Rag’n’Bone Man

25. Rage and Romance // Bressie

26. Sound of our Hearts // Compact Disco

27. Watch Me // The Phantoms

28. I’m a Wanted Man // Royal Deluxe

29. Black and Gold // Sam Sparro

30. Two Against One // Danger Mouse

31. No Place to Hide // Jace Everett

32. Fire // Delta Rae

33. Hellfire // Barns Courtney

34. Who Did That to You? // John Legend

35. Pork Soda // Glass Animals

36. Fashion // The Royal Concept

37. My Type // Saint Motel

38. Snap Out of It // Arctic Monkeys

39. Cage of Bones // Son Lux

40. Way Down We Go // Kaleo

41. House on a Hill // The Pretty Reckless

42. You Don’t Know Me // Son Lux

43. Daggers & Knives // Woodes

44. Hold On I’m Coming // Welshly Arms

45. Came a Long Way // Heartless Bastards

46. In My Mind // Georgi Kay

47. How Bad We Need Each Other // Marc Scibilia

48. Written in the Water // Gin Wigmore

49. Agnes // Glass Animals

50. Glitter & Gold // Barns Courtney

51. Legendary // Welshly Arms

52. Wicked Ones // Dorothy

53. The Place I Left Behind // The Deep Dark Woods

54. Suit // Boom! Bap! Pow!

55. How I Want Ya // Hudson Thames

56. I’m in Love // Farmdale

57. I Wanna be Yours // Arctic Monkeys

58. Weeds or Wishes // Erin & the Wildfire

59. Afterglow // Troy Baker

60. Seer // Motopony

61. Hollow // Beulah

62. Broken Bones // Kaleo

63. Meet Your Master // Nine Inch Nails

64. Supremacy // Muse

65. Marked Man // Mieka Pauley

66. Sorry I Stole Your Man // Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas

67. Tumbleweeds // Twin Bandit

68. Oh My Love // To Kill a King

69. Into the Jungle // X Ambassadors

70. Ready Set Let’s Go // Sam Tinnesz

71. Highway // Bleeker

72. Pressure and Time // Rival Sons

73. Raise Hell // Dorothy

74. What Makes a Good Man? // The Heavy

75. Put the Gun Down // ZZ Ward

76. Judgement Day // Stealth

77. Coming Down // Halsey

78. (I Just) Died in your Arms // BASTILLE

79. Never Tear Us Apart // Paloma Faith

80. Lay My Body Down // Rag’n’Bone Man

81. Bury Me Face Down // grandson

82. More Than This // Georgi Kay

83. Through the Valley // Shawn James

84. What We Lost in the Fire // Troy Baker

85. Blood on My Name // The Brothers Bright

86. Be Your Own God // Nightmare and the Cat

87. Don’t Mess With Me // Temposhark

88. Hipster Shakes // Black Pistol Fire

89. Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene // Hozier

90. To the Top // Twin Shadow